Would you? My dad has our internet blocked. I cant exactly tell him why I want to look up love. She wrinkled her nose.
Ill call and tell you what I find out, okay?
The girls high-fived and bumped elbows in their special signing-off code. Giggling, they changed the subject, talking instead about the party Brandy hoped her parents would let her have for her upcoming thirteenth birthday.
* * *
AS MACK STOOD by the window, he saw the girls chattering a mile a minute, and he was glad the Everses were such nice people. He counted himself lucky that Brandy and Zoey had gotten along like sisters from the day they met in third grade. Dan Evers sold tractors in town. His wife, Amanda, loved gardening. Theyd moved to La Mesa and bought the old Thompson ranch so she could set up greenhouses. Several days a week she sold flowers and seasonal vegetables to local residents. Although Erma used to tend a large garden at Turkey Creek Ranch when Mack was a kid, she bought fresh produce from Amanda now. He knew she was slowing down.
He heard louder voices and turned in time to see a technician pushing Erma, in a wheelchair, into the waiting room. Mack tossed his empty coffee cup in a nearby wastebasket and rushed up to her. How do you feel? Whats the verdict?
A harried-looking doctor showed up before Erma could answer. He handed her a prescription. The pills are for pain, he said. Turning to Mack, he added, She needs the pills for when the shot I administered wears off. I explained to Erma that her hip is badly swollen and bruised. I dont see a fracture, but Im sending the films to a radiologist in Lubbock. I should have an answer in two or three days. This is no simple injury, and there could be a chipped bone. Of necessity, due mostly to Ermas age, I dont want her bearing weight on that leg for four to six weeks. This is a loaner wheelchair. Youll need to rent or purchase one and bring ours back as soon as possible.
Mackenzie, I am so sorry, Erma said even as she adjusted a blue ice pack she held to her right hip and thigh. I told Benny last week about that loose step. In my rush to gather eggs this morning, I plumb forgot about it and caught my heel. It was my own dumb fault.
Mack patted her shoulder. Taking in everything the doctor and Erma said, he was trying to figure out how theyd care for Erma and handle her many chores while she was laid up. His phone rang as the doctor impressed on Erma the need not to skimp on the pain medicine. Take two of these as soon as you get home, and two more before you go to bed. Then the same dose twice a day until we get answers from radiology.
Excusing himself, Mack went into the entry to take the call. Bennys booming voice caused him to hold the phone away from his ear.
Boss, where are you? Someone we were just talking about a couple of months ago showed up. She says you know shes here. Its Jilly Walker. The old ranch foreman whistled through his teetha wolf whistle that grated on Macks already frayed nerves.
Dont let her get too cozy, Benny. Jill is only a temporary pain in my butt. Im with Erma. The docs not sure if her hip is just bruised or fractured, too. But shes gonna be laid up for at least a month. We have to swing by the pharmacy for her prescription, and to see if they sell wheelchairs. Ill stop and see Leitha Davidson at the employment office. We need a housekeeper to fill Ermas shoes for a while. I hope they can supply someone. By the way, can you fix up some type of ramp into the house? Erma says she tripped on a loose board on the back steps.
Dang, she told me about that last week. Its on my to-do list. But it came after hauling water to a thirsty herd, and bringing in cows with new calves.
Im not blaming you, Benny. This is our busiest season. The last thing any of us need is to have Erma down, to say nothing of Jill messing up my life again. She promises its for a day or two. Why shes here is a long story. Ill fill you in later.
I might have a solution to one problem, boss. My cousin Sonja may be able to fill in for Erma. Sonjas youngest daughter just got married and moved away, so shes kind of blue. Hold off talking to Leitha until I call my cousin. Shed fit in here and I can vouch for her cooking.
Thats music to my ears, Benny. Well be home within the hour. Let Jill, uh, take her trial pictures, and send her on her way. He ended the call and went back to fetch Erma.
Because Mack didnt really want to explain Jills presence to Erma in front of the girls, he hurriedly mentioned the untimely visit as he wheeled the housekeeper out.
Praise the Lord, Erma said.
From my perspective its more like a curse, Mack muttered as Ermas excited response made his heart flutter.
What brought her back here?
Zoey and Brandy got it into their heads to enter me in a lame magazine contest. They won. Worse luck, Jill is who the magazine sent to do a story and take pictures of me around the ranch.
Mmm, seems like serendipity. Erma shot Mack a broad smile over one shoulder.
Youre far too cheerful for a woman in your condition. Ill chalk it up to the pain shot the doc says he gave you. But theres one thing we all need to get straight. I am not the least bit happy to have Jill Walker land back in my life, even for a couple of days.
Oh, I hear you, Mackenzie. Erma closed her eyes and tucked her chin against her chest.
Chapter Three
As soon as Mack unlocked his pickup with the remote, Zoey hopped out and ran to hug Erma. That pleased Mack. Zoey really was a good kid, although he should probably still dole out some disciplinary action for sending embarrassing photos of him to a womens magazine. He could take away a few of her privileges, he supposed, but he hated doing that to a lonely, only child. He knew what growing up alone was like.
Zoey, will you please open the front passenger door? Stuff this bed pillow Erma brought under her right hip. Be gentle, shes in some pain.
Is your hip broken? Zoey asked Erma after her dad lifted the housekeeper into the truck. He folded the wheelchair and slid it under the canopy covering the pickup bed.
The doctor wont know until a specialist in Lubbock reads my X-rays, Zoey. I sure hate causing your dad so much bother. He has better things to do than waste half a day taking caring of me. I made a dumb mistake, tripping over a board Id already said was loose.
Mack boosted Zoey into the backseat, then rounded the pickup to the drivers side. Then he said, Come on, Erma. Youre family. Dad gave thanks every day that you happened to be looking for work when Moms cancer got bad.
Such a long time ago. Twenty-five years, Erma murmured as she leaned back against the headrest. You were younger than Zoey when your mom died, Mackenzie. The years sure roll on by quickly, dont they?
I was eight, Mack said softly as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Brandy rustled around in the backseat. Gosh, Mr. B., you didnt grow up with a mom, either?
Mack frowned in the rearview mirror. He was surprised at the old sense of loss that arose, given how many years had passed. Zoey and I are lucky Erma landed at the ranch equipped to mother us, he told Brandy.
Erma stirred. It was me who got lucky, yall. You may remember, Mackenzie, but I was engaged to be married. My fiancé, Johnny, went MIA in Vietnam. It was right near the end of that awful war. I didnt have any real skills. Johnnys family and mine were both dirt poor. I attempted a series of odd jobs but couldnt live on what I got paid. Back then there werent many good jobs available to rural farm kids. But I couldnt bear to leave La Mesa in case the army found Johnny. Since I wasnt his wife, they wouldnt have tracked me down. Seems like yesterday, but its been forty years. She passed a trembling, wrinkled hand over her eyes. Shoot, its gotta be that danged shot making me lonesome. You kids dont need to hear an old lady ramble on.